by Atlas Kane
The sunset had painted the cliff above Camp Casmeer with bronze and tangerine. Satemi greeted them with a wave. Cade was excited to share their discoveries with the woman, but she had more than one for them as well. Not only were matching leather vests prepared for the both of them, but dinner was made, and she’d even built a small structure.
The latter was a simple thing, just a rectangle of poles driven into the ground a few dozen strides away from their sleeping hut. It had an angled, thatched roof of palm fronds interwoven to keep off rain, and a door that hinged open and closed. Its purpose was simple and obvious. All of the excess materials Satemi had in her Inventory were now sitting in neat stacks within.
“What do you think? Please, don’t be shy with the compliments. It was a lonely day,” Satemi said, and Cade could tell the isolation had been good for her despite her words. Not everyone needed constant company.
Cade looked over the clean and efficient construction of the storage hut. “It’s great, Satemi. This will allow us to really buckle down and stockpile our resources without hauling a bunch of unnecessary weight. Minda and I can put our stuff in there later… after you show us those cool vests you made.”
Satemi dipped her head, her mask catching the sunlight perfectly. “Of course,” she said at last. “You first, Minda. I only hope it fits.”
The beastkin girl skipped forward and slipped the leather vest on over her shirt. Sure enough, the fit was precise. A few wooden buttons were sewn to close the front, leather string holding it all together. It was handsome in design and Satemi went so far as to dye the leather a dark green.
“It’s lovely! How did you get the color so even?” Minda marveled, spinning around in her new garment. It was a piece of armor for sure, but she was treating it like a dress.
“I crushed some of those tall grass shoots, making them into a pulp, then rubbed the leather down. It was far easier than I’d feared. I am pleased you like it.” Then turning to Cade, the woman gestured to the other vest.
“Okay, okay,” Cade said, removing his axe and new buckler. He couldn’t help but inspect the vest as he slid it over his shirt.
Simple Leather Vest
Quality: Rough
Description: Provides moderate reduction in slashing and piercing damage.
Mods: Stained - provides a minimal increase in stealth in forested environments.
It wrapped his torso snugly, yet when he moved from side to side, the fresh leather stretched to accommodate. The vest had two layers of thin deer hide sewn together which made for more substantial armor. Cade was impressed.
“This is awesome, Satemi. Your work is excellent, especially without having proper tools.”
She grinned but pointed a finger at the buckler. “What the hell is that? You two found a soul weapon? And why does Cade look to be recovering from some invisible injury?”
Her tone had shifted somewhat, concern coloring her words. Seems like we’ve got plenty to catch up on then. Might as well get to it, Cade groaned internally. Instead of answering right away, he suggested, “Why don’t we eat first, and Minda can tell you exactly how smart and stupid I am.”
The two women exchanged a look, but after a pause, consented to Cade’s idea. They all ate their fill and Minda did her best to catch Satemi up on the gory details of the encounter with the Kotani Ma and the Earthen Apes as well as the crazy eel boss. Satemi shook her head at a few points, especially when Cade had been electrocuted in the cave. She didn’t stop Minda’s storytelling though, and when they finished, she seemed pleased enough to learn the new skills the buckler would give them.
“With my two-sword style, the buckler is not so useful to me, but now you can truly be a frontline fighter, Cade. It will make our trio more formidable than ever. And maybe even Minda can use it, especially on the times she leaves on her own to explore or forage. Now, is there anything else I am missing? Or have we all caught up?”
Cade grinned, knowing his last bit of news might be the most intriguing of all. Without summoning the item, he read Satemi the information regarding the item the eel dropped.
Pungent Eel Carcass - Unique
Effects: May attract and appease bondable creatures, enhancing both their physical and mental capacities.
Conditions: Creature must consume item and be detained, subdued, or otherwise immobilized for two minutes in order to activate effects. Single-use item.
Satemi admitted it could be quite the find but was curious what beast Cade had in mind to lure to their cause.
“Let’s just say that first thing in the morning, I’d like you to get started on crafting a trap large enough to contain a Brimstone Boar.”
Minda spoke up, her elegant finger arcing to the sky. “I told him it was a fool’s mission, but he wouldn’t listen. They grow huge, and who knows whether or not we’ll be able to control such a monster. I’d prefer to go for something more manageable.”
Satemi sat silent for a time, but when she spoke again, her voice was filled with barely repressed curiosity. “A battle mount of that power would be a vital resource if we ever plan to retake Tanrial. I am for trying. I can build the structure in a day, perhaps longer. For now, I have one final gift for you, Cade.”
She left and returned with something in her hands, a log it seemed, but when she laid it across Cade’s lap, he knew at once what it was. The woman had split a large log down the center and hollowed it out, then hardened it with flame. The end result was a concave surface perfect for grinding ingredients. And of course, in the center sat a stone shaped like an ideal pestle.
“There are more appropriate holes in the great stone below the falls if you need to grind large amounts. But for now, you can use the light of the fire to work at your new Occupation.” Satemi finished her speech then retrieved a new leather project she’d been working on and fell to crafting herself.
Minda announced she would head to the falls to bathe. Following her and wearing himself out sounded like a pleasant thing to do, but Satemi was watching him. He knew as well as they how important his skills would become. So instead of having another romp with his lovely new girlfriend again, he pulled out the Rinan Roots and began grinding them into a paste.
Cade worked for a few hours, caught in the rhythm of preparing reagents. Something happened to his brain when he worked at his Occupation, and he suspected it had to do with the way this world functioned. It was as if time passed quicker and even the simple task of grinding became highly pleasurable. When he was done, he had ground and prepared all of the ingredients he needed to make several versions of his first Alchemical recipe.
He reviewed the recipe and summoned the two items needed. As he was about to begin preparing his first creation, Satemi cleared her throat above him. “Hey, busy boy. It is time you lay off, okay? We should be thinking of sleep.”
It was late. The night sky was filling with stars and an incredible moon shone down on them. How many hours have I been working? Shit’s more addictive than an MMO! “Sorry, I just want to finish a few things first. Give me another hour?”
Minda growled from where she sat near the fire, and Satemi answered dryly, “If you don’t put away your toys, I’ll have to kick your ass and drag you away. Which would you prefer?”
He smiled, looking up at the woman who stood with arms crossed, mask gleaming in the moonlight. “Yeah, probably not how that would go down. I just need a little bit more anyway. How about five minutes? I want to finish at least one of my recipes.”
“You hear this, Minda? I think he just challenged me.”
“That’s what I heard. Said he could beat you, though he didn’t have the guts to say it outright,” Minda added, frustration and humor in her voice.
Cade stood up, stretching his back. “Hey, it wasn’t a challenge. But I have some training, and I’m a lot bigger than you. Honestly, I could probably wrestle both of your cute butts and come out on top.”
“Challenge accepted,” Satemi said. “And thank you for giving me Minda as w
ell. If you win, you can play Alchemist all night long. If we win, you come to bed and agree not to work until the moon is out. Agreed?”
He laughed, looking between the two women. “Sure, but just grappling, okay? No weapons, no hitting, and no scratching.” Cade said this last one with emphasis, successfully baiting the women further.
“Oh, we won’t scratch sweetheart. We’ll just choke your cute little throat until you beg for mercy,” Minda said with surprising ferocity.
Cade was still shaking his head in disbelief when the three walked toward a patch of grass two dozen feet away from the fire pit. Looking his companions in the eyes, he was beginning to question his wisdom. If I win, it certainly won’t be easy, and if I lose, I’ll never live it down.
Yet the opportunity was simply too rich to pass up.
With smiles on their faces, the three companions met in a tangle of limbs and giggles.
At first it was a casual game of gentle pushes and pulls. It was obvious that Satemi had more experience with the sport, but Minda proved agile and hard to get a hold of. When she came close enough, however, Cade dove in, pressing the top of his head to her belly and tugging her leg out from under her.
She was on her back in a flash. That left Cade vulnerable to Satemi’s assault. The woman wasted no time and fell over him, worming her arm around his neck. He buried his chin to his chest, and tried to shrug her off.
Minda fell to giggles and squeals as their combined weight crushed the poor girl. Cade saved her the trouble by rocking back and landing his weight on top of Satemi.
Then he twisted his head and began breaking her hold with one of his hands while he reached around and tickled her with the other. This only earned him a jab to the ribs, which hurt but made him weak with laughter.
Finally, he managed to twist around in the woman’s arms and found himself face to face with her creepy mask. Still, he imagined her smile as he climbed atop, pinning her to the ground with his bulk. He needed a quick arm bar or choke hold to end this, but of course, Minda was on his back in a flash. This time, the combination was much more effective. She clung to him, her legs wrapped around his torso, and her wiry arm fighting to surround his throat.
The woman was smarter than he realized. She brought the blade of her hand slowly but inexorably up into the bottom of his nose. It compressed the nerve there, forcing his head up and away from Satemi. Then her arm was around his neck. She didn’t wrap him up and expertly finish him off, but Minda didn’t have to.
Heaving him up and away from her, Satemi performed some ridiculously complex leg wrap, wedging herself against his torso and bending his left elbow backwards.
“Ah! Okay, I yield,” Cade cried out, and the three fell to their backs together laughing up at the moon. The moon didn’t seem to care, but it made for the perfect end of the night.
The three combatants headed up to the pool and bathed in the silvery light. It was beautiful, and then observing the women’s sleek bodies coated in the mithril sheen of the shimmering light, he wasn’t sore about losing a bit. Not even when Satemi teased him for the third time.
As they made their way back to the tent, Satemi offered to pull the first watch. “I don’t mind at all. In fact, I feel quite energetic. You must be very tired, Cade, so please, rest up.”
“That’s it. Next time, it is me verses you, and we will see who wins,” Cade offered, and they shook on it. Some day in the future, he would have his rematch. As it was, he ducked into the shelter, slipping in under the furs.
Minda was warm, and after a few more bouts of laughter, they were asleep in no time.
The following day was a blur of activity.
Minda asked for Cade’s help setting up a few basic things before she invested her time in the garden. He helped her hack a few large logs into pieces to act as a substrate for her fungus friends. After, she even had him dig a wide pit, using the soil removed to stack around the hole. Essentially, some of the mushrooms needed to grow out of the sun, so they cut out a few shelves in the clay, and after Minda had sprinkled and enchanted the fungus spores, Cade covered the pit with palm fronds, pinning them down with stones. The beastkin woman hummed to herself and continued to work, waving him away with a flick of her wrist.
It was Satemi who took the next couple hours of his time, reviewing her plans for the boar trap and hacking down larger and stronger logs. Once the raw timber was felled, he let her borrow his axe to work alone.
Finally, he got to return to his nerdy-ass Apothecary crafting. It seemed odd to Cade that chemistry would be so exciting to him, but the thought of blowing Vormer’s ass up with a grenade kept him focused.
He reviewed the first recipe once more before beginning.
Staunching Poultice (Requirements: Powdered Scorching Sweet Potato, Tincture of Rinan Root)
The Tincture of Rinan Root had been more simple to produce than he’d feared. Each ingredient came with enough information to let him know what he had to do to turn it into a reagent. When he’d examined the Rinan Root, a short description informed of the two steps it took to make it into a tincture. Grind into suitable paste and soak in fresh water for eight hours were all it took. Thankfully, Satemi had made a few extra waterskins as well, very basic versions but enough to soak the root pulp overnight.
So that morning, Cade mixed a small amount of the Powdered Scorching Sweet Potato with the Tincture of Rinan Root, using his Apothecary kit to do so. Like so many other things in this world, the physics seemed simplified. He didn’t need to measure the ingredients, rather his Occupation allowed him to instinctively know what was needed. And when he’d finished making one unit of the poultice, he wrapped it in a leaf and stored it in his Inventory. He continued to do so until the materials he had ran out. It only took ten or so minutes to do so, but Cade felt satisfied with the work. He would need to give several of the items to both of his companions. Stopping bleeding during or after a fight could save one of their lives.
After a brief conversation with Pablo, Cade pulled up his Occupation’s progress and was pleased to see how much his efforts paid off.
Apothecary Occupation Menu
Essential Skill 1: Grind Level 3
+10% chance of producing Quality Powder and Pastes
-10% production time for each unit of reagent
Essential Skill 2: Steep Level 2
+5% chance of producing Quality Tinctures
-5% production time for each unit of reagent
The third essential skill for Apothecary was unaffected as Cade had yet to distill anything. More exciting were his gains to the Alchemical Engineering Occupation however.
Alchemical Engineer Occupation Menu
Occupation Proficiency: Level 2
Chemical Recipes Known: 3
Staunching Poultice (Requirements: Powdered Scorching Sweet Potato, Tincture of Rinan Root)
Viscous Acid (Requirements: Glow Shroom Paste, Phosphorescent Cave Algae Paste, Tincture of Niyan Grass Shoots)
Combustion Powder (Requirements: Tincture of Sulfur Herb, Tincture of Saltpeter Mold, Distillation of listed Tinctures)
Holy shit birds! Combustion Powder and freaking acid? I am gonna ruin shit, Cade thought, his crafting fever beginning to take hold once more. There was a lot to do this time. Not just a simple grind fest and mixing two ingredients together. The Viscous Acid seemed the simplest, but he would need to go and speak with Minda first. None of these ingredients looked familiar to him, but he hadn’t bothered on learning everything she’d harvested from the grove near camp or from the cave.
So Cade stretched his back and walked over to Minda, intent on harassing the woman until she gave him everything he needed to blow shit up. As he walked the short distance to the garden, his mind buzzed. How in the hell can I take combustible powder and turn it into a grenade? he wondered. Was there some kind of a coconut or some other hard-shelled fruit he could use to pack the powder in? He sure as hell was going to find out.
Minda was more than agreeable, show
ing him her full stores of herbs and fungi. Thankfully, they had everything needed for both recipes. That night they had a fine dinner of meat and mushrooms. The mushrooms cooked up perfectly in the fat produced by the steak drippings. They let the mushrooms soak in the venison fat then roasted them on the end of sticks like savory marshmallows.
Even Satemi admitted that the fungus was delicious, and the group’s morale was high as they feasted together. The women were so appeasing they didn’t hold it against Cade when he spent the rest of the night grinding out his Occupation skills, producing what he hoped would become some high-tech weaponry, at least in the world of Antinium.
26
Far From a Boaring Day
The next morning, Cade inspected the boar trap Satemi had worked so hard on. It was an ingenious contraption, as simple as it was undeniably strong. A simple fence with a falling door to lock the beast in, but made with logs thicker than Cade’s thighs and bound with enough cordage to strangle a mountain with. Long poles jutted out from the top railing, buried in the ground along the sides. Satemi explained how she hoped the poles would absorb some of the energy if the boar fought its domestication.
Remembering the lumbering beast, Cade had a feeling it would.
The most timely and fortunate aspect of this haphazard plan was that Minda had spotted the group of boars pillaging the shrubbery down the canyon about halfway to the apes. Cade suspected the group of troublemaking pigs had a route they followed, and being so big and numerous, the apes would have made no complaints about their regularly passing by. Minda had been smart enough to lure them toward camp by dispensing handfuls of grapes. She came up, frantically waving her hands in the air to catch their attention.